Taking a moment.

It's almost November of my Junior year in college.  A little bit crazy and hard to believe.  This semester has been flying by, and has been much more challenging work load wise than either of my semesters at Master's last year.  Each week has been filled with projects, papers, presentations along with the usual array of reading and other homework.  The Lord has been continually faithful though, even in the times where I've worked as hard as I could but still haven't gotten things done on time, He has been faithful to bless me with teachers who have been gracious.  With the semester being a little more than half way over I'm taking a step back to praise the Lord for His faithfulness and to sit for a moment in my dorm room (which is quiet at the moment), and to think on His glory. 

I'm taking a moment to laugh and praise the Lord that I'm in a place where there is this paradox that when it's 70 degrees outside in October it's exciting because it's "cold" enough to be classified as fall weather.  I can wear a scarf, tights with a skirt and my wonderfully wornout dusty pink cowgirl boots. Yes, it's Fall.

I'm taking a moment to thank the Lord for the imagination, because with it I can imagine it is actually cold outside.  The air is crisp and I'm in a cozy little cottage surrounded by Aspen trees vividly changing colors.  I can look out the front window and watch as I sip chai tea curled up in a blanket with my favorite book on my lap.  It's Fall. 

I'm taking a moment to think about home and remember all the Fall memories with my brother and friends growing up.  It always, always, always, would snow on Halloween.  And I would insist on planning all my brothers birthday parties.  Fall meant it was time to start dance classes again, and knit scarves with my mom. 

I'm taking a moment to praise the Lord for my room mate this semester, and how He knew in His wisdom and sovereignty that we would be room mates this semester, and walk through things together.  What a display of His love and grace.  I'll miss her next semester when she's in Israel, but I'm so excited for her!

In the midst of this semester where it's so busy it seems like each week just flies by I don't want to miss all the displays of God's goodness, greatness and glory all around me.  He's working even when I don't see it.  I'm often so blind and need to take a step back, to look, to taste and see that the Lord is good.  So even though this next week is crazy for me with midterms, projects, presents, oh and normal homework all due there is always a moment to stop, to see the Lord's glory, and to praise
Him.

Be still and wait.

 

 

Wait, He says, wait on Me, trust Me.

Though there seems to be no end to the gray skies,

remember My promises,

rest in My love.

Soon enough, My daughter,

I will lead you out of this valley and through this storm,

then you will be stronger still.

Until then wait through the storm;

the thunder and the downpour of rain.

Remember Me, keep your heart stayed on Me,

I am holding you, find peace in My embrace.

Rays of sunshine will soon break through the dreary clouds.

The trees will blossom and the flowers bloom after the downpour of rain.

Beauty will come from this storm.

In the meantime, My daughter,

Be still, wait, take heart, do not be afraid.

I am with thee.

 

 

"You keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on You,
because he trusts in You.
Trust in the Lord forever,
for the Lord God is an everlasting rock"

- Isaiah 26:3-4

 

"fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

- Isaiah 41:10

Grace with every step.

 

 

The first note plays as the song begins. She steps onto the stage.

Her arms in second position looking a l'epaule; an excitement and a joy fills her soul.

He has just redeemed her soul, washed her in His blood; she is new, she is whole.

Now her dance belongs to Him.

She steps out in faith with her first grande jette knowing He is with her every step. 

The music is bliss and she leaps as if she is on a cloud. 

She lands with grace as the music changes. 

She tiptoes to center stage. 

Her heart skips a beat because it's time for her most challenging step. 

Her fouettes are about to begin.

Her whip and spin are pefect until number sixteen. 

She slips and falls, but He is there to pick her up again.  She dances on.

The music changes again.  The drama and the crescendos in the music begins. 

She struggles to keep up with her music. 

The grande jette's and pirouettes move at a franatic pace. 

She dances with precision to the sound of violins rushing fiercely. 

Fear and anxiety start to fill the music and movement.

Every step seems to move faster and faster. 

Her weary heart can scarce take it in.

Just then the music slows and changes again.

The violins have slowed to a heart aching melancoly sound.

She begins to bourree across the stage and moves with emotion.

She feels her brokenness and has again come to her end;

utterly broken, the pain overwhelms, and fear engulfs her as the melody plays on.

Yet she knows there is hope. Though she sits in the ashes there is hope.

The song has not come to an end yet, there is still beauty in the dance because He holds her hand.

Her broken, weary, fearful, doubting heart she gives over to Him.

To her King the great I AM.

The only One who can make her whole and new again. 

The only One who can make her dance full of beauty, peace and joy again.

He is faithful; the Creator and source of beauty.

The One who has ordained her every step;

her every develope, pirouette, and grande jette.

He has held and kept her every step.

He has picked her up after every mistake, every bruise, and every blistered toe.

He has made her stronger and perfected her technique through those things.

Soon the sounds of crescendos and melancoly violins will cease. 

Hope will burst forth in the quiet joy of the pianos beautiful melody.

She will glide across the stage in a moment of pure beauty of extension, lines and grace.

As the sound of the last note plays she will end her dance in His embrace.

He will wipe every tear away and her heart will be forever satisfied in His presence.

Yet, until that moment while she is in the midst of her dance,

she mustn't forget the one who holds her,

every step in His love,

and who will carry her until the end.

He is faithful.

Her hope will not put her to shame. 

 

 

"Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." - Romans 5:2-5

 

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
    His mercies never come to an end;
 they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in Him.” 

 The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
to the soul who seeks Him.
 It is good that one should wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord."

- Lamentations 3:22-26